Posts Tagged ‘Golf Clubs’
Putting Tips for Consistency
Since more than half the strokes of your total golf score are made on or around the putting green it pays to spend some time working on your putting skills. In past seasons I have been a streaky putter meaning some days I’m off and others I drop every putt I hit into the cup. Naturally the latter is the preference and lately I made some changes in my set up and technique that have made me more consistent and better when on the green.
Speed and Direction are the two key components to the putt but you have to be able to read the slope of the green to determine direction. The read and speed will come mostly from practice and experience as each green is different. The techniques I now utilize to aid with consistency are the following: 1) Use the writing on the golf balls to place your ball on line with the read you determined after viewing the slope of the green.
2) View the slope of the green from at least two directions
3) Keep your head down until your hear the golf balls drop into the cup or until well after the ball is struck with the putter. {Fore: If you pick your head up too quickly it may pull you off line on the follow thru which is critical for good consistent putts}
4) Wedge your left elbow into your left side and use your shoulders and arms in a pendulum motion as you start your putt and hold this position until you finish the stroke.
Try these different methods and see if they help your game on the green. Happy Golfing to All!
I’ve always been a proponent of golf etiquette from the time of my first golf round. Many new golfers and some experienced golfers alike do not always observe the etiquette that is associated with golf. Of the many courtesies that should be extended to your fellow players on the golf course, one I observe frequently being overlooked is allowing a single golfer to play through or asking them to join you if there are only two or three players in your group.
This infraction of golf etiquette was more apparent this past weekend when I was the single golfer and the two groups ahead of me were not observing the common courtesies associated with the game. I played the first six holes solo and finally caught a twosome and followed them for a number of holes. I caught up to them on the tee box of the eleventh hole where they were preparing to tee off and they did not bother to ask if I would like to join them or play through until about four holes later. I finally did play through and ended up behind a foursome who was more discourteous than the twosome. They ignored the fact that I was waiting indefinitely on each hole as they proceeded to hit their golf balls, one shot worse than the other. I had enough at the 17th hole and left the golf course since I was waiting at least 20 minutes on each hole for them to clear the landing area. The amount of time they took was well above the average total of about 15 minutes usually required to play an entire golf hole. If the day was beautiful and sunny like it was the previous weekend I may have played the last two holes but the cold windy conditions made it difficult to wait for each shot.
Tip for the day (Fore: Observe Golf Etiquette - allow a single to join you if you have three or less golfers in your group. It is also courteous to allow a single player or twosome to play through, especially if you notice them behind your group and waiting on every shot.)
Happy Golfing to All!
A short time ago it appeared as if Tiger and Elin were trying to salvage their marriage after he had completed the first part of his sex addiction treatment. Now it is rumored that Elin will be returning home with their children and Tiger Woods will be competing in The Masters without his wife and family in the stands cheering him on. This is a good indication that the reconcilliation is not going well and it may be over for them.
The big question is will his personal problems and the lay off from golf competition affect his performance in The Masters. This is a tough venue to return for and it will be a true test of how this situation has affected perhaps the greatest golfer who ever lived. We should be able to make some determination by how he is hitting golf balls in the first two rounds if he will be around on Sunday to make a run at the Green Jacket. What do you think? Send in your opinion and comments. Happy Golfing to All!
What a great weekend for golf and outdoor activities in general. Spring is in the air and golf fever is spreading quickly. It was nice to see the sun shining again after the harsh winter months and the “Hurricane Without a Name” just a short weekend ago. My significant other and I enjoyed golf at the Brentwood Country Club on Long Island this past weekend. As noted in previous posts this is a no frills golf course but it does promote and allow walking, which is our prteference whenever possible. Since we were trapped indoors for the past few months due to the snow, rain and cold this was a pleasant reprieve and very enjoyable to be out in the sun and getting some good exercise walking the golf course at the same time.
We started out early and hit some golf balls to warm up before our round. It was a real pleasure especially since it was not crowded and the pace of play was well above average for Brentwood. We played in about four hours, which is great as the average time for a round here is normally five hours plus. I am looking forward to playing golf again very soon to prepare for my Myrtle Beach trip in a few weeks. I played well this past weekend but I still need to fine tune my game and get the rust off before the trip. My buddies are very competitive and if I don’t bring my A- Game I will be paying the tab at the 19th hole after each round which is not my preference. So let’s get the clubs out, shake the rust off and schedule your first round for this golf season if you haven’t already done so. The green fees are still priced at winter rates at most courses so take advantage of the good weather and low prices while you can. Happy Golfing to All!
Can the golf season finally be here? I sure hope so because at this same time last week there was near hurricane conditions throughout the metropolitan area and through much of the northeast, in fact some areas are still without power. This is a new week and it appears that spring is in the air and golf fever will be catching on soon. We have enjoyed some warm weather over the past few days and the sun has finally come out from behind the clouds. This is the weather that golfers around the country dream about for March.
The weather forecast for this weekend will be most enjoyable for golfing. Hitting golf balls is one of my favorite pastimes and having seventy degree temperatures to actually play on a golf course in March is the icing on the cake. I look forward to the weekend and golf on Saturday and maybe Sunday? I hope you will be joining me. Happy Golfing to All!
The return of Tiger Woods to golf for The Masters this season was the most logical prediction for the once illustrious golfer. Most of the writers in the golf media, inlcuding myself had determined that this tournament would be the most likely for his return. As good as Tiger is he still needs every chance he can get if he is to allow himself the opportunity to tie or beat Jack Nicklaus’s incredible 18 major record, which inlcudes six Masters victories.
This goal has been in the forefront of Tiger’s mind since he first held a golf club in his hand. In a few short weeks we will see how the layoff and his personal dilemma has affected his golfing skills. Will he return in true Tiger form or will he even make the cut at Augusta, one of the toughest major venues on the PGA roster? Either outcome is possible but I’m looking forward to his return to golf and to watch him hitting golf balls again as he does like no other since Jack. Happy Golfing to All!
When all of the players in your group have hit their tee shots, you will go to the player’s ball that is furthest from the green on that particular hole and allow them to hit first. You will all then proceed to hit your second shots in order of who is furthest from the green or away as referred to in golf lingo, while observing golf etiquette and no longer using a tee.
The subsequent shots must be played where they lie in adhering to the normal rules of golf. In inclement weather conditions or after rain or where there is standing water in the fairway or rough, the ball may be lifted, cleaned and placed without penalty so that a player is not unfairly penalized for abnormal conditions they may encounter on the course on a particular day. There are also winter rules and ground under repair situations whereby you may remove and replace your golf balls in a new location, no closer to the hole, without penalty. The most important thing to remember is to have a good time. Happy Golfing to All!
Although winter is not yet over the weather this past weekend allowed for an enjoyable round of golf for the first time in almost four months. A good friend invited me to join him at Ballamor Golf Club in Egg Harbor Township in Southern New Jersey. Although over 100 mile trip I gladly drove there to be able to finally play the game I enjoy more than any other. Besides my good buddy Ferd, two other members of our annual golf competition in Myrtle Beach also joined us for some golf fun. I was definitely rusty as I shot almost 100 which is well over my average score of approximately 85.
It felt good to be outdoors in the fresh air and hitting golf balls again. We finished playing about 1:30 pm and then enjoyed a couple of beers and some chicken wings while dividing up the winnings from our golf bets. I actually lost a few dollars because my game was off and I was stiff from the lay off over the winter. Ballamor Golf Club was very well maintained and enjoyable to play. The layout of the golf holes was challenging, interesting and well presented. I would definitely include it on my places to play again list for this coming golf season and I’m already looking forward to my next golf round. Happy Golfing to All!
Tiger Woods is for the moment resuming his role as dad and doting husband to Elin and their children. He is back in Orlando and if I had to guess he is also inconspicuously preparing for his return to golf this year in golf’s most prestigious tournament in April, The Masters.
I imagine it will be difficult for him at first to face his peers, golf fans and the press when he appears for the first time in public at the beginning of April, which is only a few short weeks away. But if I know anything about Tiger Woods he will be looking to make a statement by staying in contention from start to finish of The Masters. He’ll be back in form hitting golf balls and competing again in the game he loves. This is speculation on my part but I can’t see him foregoing an important opportunity on his march to golf history and Jack Nicklaus’s remarkable 18 major record. We shall soon see. Happy Golfing to All!
After teeing up your golf ball, pick an object a short distance in front of you that will align your ball with the intended target line of your landing area. When preparing to hit golf balls set your shoulders and chest parallel to that object and target line. This will increase your odds for a successful and accurate swing result more so than just swinging the club at the ball without a target or goal in mind. Make sure to tee the golf ball at the proper height to allow for a good angle of impact. The ball should sit approximately one half of the diameter of the golf ball above the head of the driver when it is grounded adjacent the tee. The main goal of the drive is to get the ball into the air so to achieve maximum distance.
Remember you are just beginning and as much as I love the game of golf it is not an easy game to master for most. It is a game however, that can be played and enjoyed by players of any skill level. So give golf a chance, for “It is truly the game of a lifetime”. Happy Golfing to All!